A new writer-in-residence program that supports English-language writers in Quebec over the age of 60 has been announced by the Quebec Writers’ Federation (QWF).

The Lori Schubert Writer-in-Residence Program is named after the QWF’s outgoing executive director and is being funded in perpetuity by an unnamed long-time supporter of QWF.

The annual residency, beginning in 2027, will run from January through April and provide a $10,000 stipend for a writer to work on their own creative project. The writer in residence will also offer consultations to members of the Quebec Writers’ Federation. The residency will culminate in a public event.

The deadline for applications for the inaugural residency  is Sept. 30.

Lori Schubert, who has served as executive director of the QWF since 2003, will retire at the end of August. During Schubert’s tenure, the QWF saw increased membership and new and expanded initiatives, including the addition of awards for children’s and young adult literature, playwriting, and spoken word, the creation of the Fresh Pages Diversity Initiative, and the launch of two literary journals. Schubert also played a role in the founding of Quebec’s English-language Arts Network (ELAN).

At the beginning of July it was announced that Rémy Attig, formerly an associate professor of sociolinguistics and translation will take on the role of executive director as of Aug. 1.